Dominating Performance

Another dominating performance from the Warriors at Wookey Rec kept Ilchester on the defensive for almost the whole first half. However, an unlucky deflected OG at the end of the first quarter and a breakaway run by the Ilchester number 8 at the end of the second saw the Warriors two down at half-time completely against the run of play. But with strong shooting from the left by Alfie (including hitting the bar), the goalie saving from Freddie, determined running and tackling from Ethan and solid defending (and some nice turns beating their forwards) from Dylan and Josh, it always seemed like the Warriors could come back.

Strangely, it took the handy Ilchester number 8 to score another breakaway goal in the third quarter (from only their fourth attack of the game) to spark the Warriors' recovery: within a minute, from the left Freddie latched onto a hopeful pass back to the Ilchester goalkeeper and finished well in the bottom right. A minute later a pass out to the right from Freddie set Eddie on a determined run up the right wing, and he beat the Ilchester goalie who was having an otherwise excellent game.

The fourth quarter saw more Warriors pressure coming from all directions, with Ethan slicing through the Ilchester team only for the goalie to make another excellent save. Ilchester hit the post with 5 minutes to go but from then on it was all Warriors. Despite tiring legs and against a fresher team with two subs, waves of Warriors attacks and shots saw Ilchester on the rocks, clinging on and counting the seconds to the final whistle. Only repeated saves from the Ilchester goalie preserved their lead to the end. Clearly the better team, the Warriors can feel incredibly unlucky not to have got the result their efforts deserved.

Goals: Freddie, Eddie
Man of the match: Freddie - he was everywhere today, despite picking up an injury (there were no subs)